FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Table of content:

• My game just crashed!
• How can I connect OpenRA to my forum account?
• Loading a savegame takes ages
• Nobody can join my online game!
• Can the server and clients be running different versions?
• Where do bugs go?
• How can I help?
• Do I need the original RA/C&C game installed?
• Is that legal?
• This is not true to the original!
• Some hotkeys do not work under Linux!

My game just crashed!

We're sorry to hear that. Please have a look at the crash logs to collect the basic information we need to help you. Depending on your operating system, this will be in a different location:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\OpenRA\Logs\ or %USERPROFILE%\Documents\OpenRA\Logs\ (older installations)
• Mac OSX: ~/Library/Application Support/OpenRA/Logs/
• Linux: ~/.config/openra/Logs or ~/.openra/Logs/ (older installations)

Before you post this information on the forum or IRC, please read the first line of the exception.log and check the common issues below. If you have a problem that is not mentioned here, please let us know at bugs.openra.net.

If the exception mentions an out of sync error, please also post syncreport.log, which you will find in the same directory and get everyone else who was playing the game to post it, too. The sync log is only useful if we have multiple players submit their log. You can use, for example, diffchecker.com to find and post the trait that caused the desync exception.

How can I connect OpenRA to my forum account?

You can find an in-depth tutorial on our forum. If you still need help, feel free to contact us on IRC or open a thread on the forum.

Loading a savegame takes ages

This is normal and a consequence of the model we currently need to use to save games. You'll just have to be patient until we properly implement saves.

Nobody can join my online game!

For others to join your game, you must forward a port in your router for them to connect to. By default, OpenRA uses TCP port 1234. You can test this on sites like canyouseeme.org yourself.

This can be be configured in the Create Server dialog. If you have a router that supports Universal Plug and Play, go to Settings - Advanced and tick the Enable Network Discovery (UPnP) checkbox. Restart the game and tick the Automatic port forwarding checkbox in the Create Server dialog.

Please keep in mind that you also need to allow connections in your software firewall.

Can the server and clients be running different versions?

No. While there are currently no checks in place for this except comparing version strings, it is advised that you only run identical versions of the game when playing multi-player games. While the network protocol may not change, differences in unit behavior between versions can cause desynchronization between clients.

Where do bugs go?

Please report yours to issue tracker.

How can I help?

Get involved! There are a few ways you can do this.

• Fork the repository and start hacking. Fix that issue that's been annoying you. Have a look at Compiling to get started.
• Add feature requests to our bug-tracker and place bounties on them if you want someone else to work on it.
• Join the community: The forums as well as IRC chat are a great place for future mod discussions and game-play ideas.

Do I need the original RA/C&C game installed?

No. OpenRA is completely standalone. When you run the game for the first time, it will download a copy of the game's files that it needs to run, or it will extract the game's files from the CD.

Is that legal?

OpenRA is a clean-room implementation of the original Westwood engine based on reverse engineering the game-files without any disassembling, DLL injections or binary patches of the original executables. This is a completely Free/Libre and Open Source real-time strategy engine whose default mods depend on the original game files.

Since Electronic Arts have released both C&C and RA as freeware, we mirror stripped-down versions of the game's assets separately. This saves EA bandwidth by mitigating hosting to our sponsor's servers and further reduces the bandwidth required by packaging only the ~15MB of files that we need to run the game, instead of making everyone download the 700MB game ISO CD image. These game assets are not covered by OpenRA's GNU General Public License. We assume the files are available for individual use and may not be put for commercial gain.

This is not true to the original!

You are right. This is, in fact, intended. OpenRA is not a clone. We have introduced many features found in modern RTS games. These changes include:

• Careful rebalance of the factions and units
• Modular MiniYAML game logic parser instead of simple INI rules
• Modern right-click mouse controls, with classic mouse as an option
• Fog of War hides enemy units
• Spectator mode and replays for e-Sport events
• Support for mods and mini-games
• Tabbed build palette which allows queuing
• New effects: e.g. tank husks and aircraft trails
• Lua scripting instead of hard-coded mission triggers
• Integration of a content delivery platform for custom maps.

If you want the true legacy experience, visit our friends at Play Red Alert 1 Online and Command & Conquer Gold: Project 1.06. They use the Open Source CnCNet - Command & Conquer Online Service for matches and chatting via the internet.

There is also D2k+, a website dedicated to Dune 2000 modding and reverse engineering. Without their help the d2k mod in OpenRA would not be possible. They also offer patches and tutorials on how to play the original on modern computers.

Some hotkeys do not work under Linux!

OpenRA uses among others the ALT key for some hotkeys. This can conflict with system-defined key bindings for several window managers. You can either change the hotkey configuration in the game settings, or change your system settings:

• Gnome: You can use the GnomeTweakTool to modify the default window action key. Open the tool and go to "Windows -> Window Action Key" and set it to "Super" or disable it.
• Cinnamon: Go to "Windows -> Behavior -> Special key to move and resize windows". After setting that to "Disabled" the ALT key should work properly in OpenRA.
• KDE: Go to "System settings > Window behaviour > Window behaviour (again) > Window actions tab". Set the modifier key to meta to disable window dragging when holding down ALT while left-clicking.
• OpenBox: Users reported that this StackOverflow answer has helped them.